Log-turner.



T. A. COLEMAN.

LOG TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB,1,19134 Patented Dec. 22. 1914.

m j :EWiWIETH m 6 m yer/far Thomas A. Co/emm 4w w TED STATE ATE THOMAS A. COLEMAN, OF VREDENBURGH, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOE OF ONE-HALF T0 PETER VREDEN'BURGH, JR., 0F VBEDENBUEGH, ALABAMA.

LOG-TURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 1, 1913. Serial No. 745,642.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vredenburgh, Alabama, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Log-Turners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan View of my improvement partly'in cross section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section.

My invention relates broadly to saw mill machinery and specifically to a form of bar or nigger used in loading and turning logs on the carriage, and to a form of mounting for such bar.

One object of my invention is to provide a bar of the kind for the purpose described which is both light and rigid, and which has the log-engaging teeth therein secured,

supported and reinforced in such a manner as to prevent their being wrenched from their mountings.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved mounting for the bar, which mounting has a flexible guiding means for determining the amount of throw and direction of movement of the bar when in operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved mounting for the bar, which mounting is provided with bearings which will prevent the bar from binding in the mounting when any of the teeth of the bar are caught in the log while the carriage is in motion, which bearings will permit the bar being retracted from engagement with the log.

It will be understood that the hereinafter described bar or nigger is adapted to be operated by any of the forms of operating devices now commonly in use which are adapted to impart to the bar a vertical reciprocatory motion, and an oscillating motion toward and away from the carriage. It will also be understood that the hereinafter described bar is adapted to engage the log to load it onto the carriage in proper position for sawing, and to turn the log on the cured to the channel bars 2 by rivets 6 which are placed substantially midway of the teeth. Between the teeth are bearing members 11 which are secured to the channel members 2 and which have their upper ends contacting with the lower portion of the teeth above them to form a bearing or mounting for the teeth near their points. The lower ends of the bearing members 11 engage the upper sides of the teeth immediately below them near the rear end of the teeth. The rivets 6 of the teeth are placed intermediate the points where the teeth contact with the bearing members 11 above and below them. This arrangement of the teeth and bearing members provides a support for the teeth near their points adaptedto hold them against displacement downward, and a support for the teeth at their rear ends adapted to hold the rear ends of the teeth against displacement upward when stresses onnion.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

are exerted upon their points. In this fashion all stress is taken off the rivets 6 and is distributed among the bearing members 11. The foot of the bar 3 may be a plate riveted between the channel members 2 and rods or other means by which the bar is actuated.

Supported in suitable journals in the housing 4 are bearing rollers 5 which afford bearings for the bar upon its up and down movements, in case the bar is forced against one side or the other of the housing by virtue of the teeth being held by the log on the carriage while the carriage is in motion. These rollers prevent the bar from binding in the housing, and permit its being retracted so as to disengage the log. The rollers of the lower pair are long so as to act as guides for the bar during its oscillatory movement.

adapted for the attachment of the-piston 30 the two bearing points.

Within the housing 4 are pivoted at either side guiding links 7 which carry rollers 8 at their free ends. The rollers 8 are adapted to register in the channels of the channel bars 2 and to form bearings which permit the up and down movement of the bar. The links 7 are adapted to swing upon their pivots with the movement of the bar, and they operate to guide and limit the oscilla- 10 tion of the bar to and from the log, and to guide the bar in its up and down reciprocatory movements.

From a consideration of the foregoing it will be seen that the construction of my improved bar provides an implement of strong and rigid construction in which the teeth are secured, reinforced and supported in such a manner as to take the strain off of their rivets. The links 7 are pivoted intermediate the upper and lower pairs of rollers 5, and the rollers 8 engage the bar intermediate the points of engagement of the upper and lower pairs of rollers therewith. This disposal of links 7 intermediate the two bearing points of the upper pair of rollers the bar binding in its mountings due to its being forced laterally by the movement of the carriage.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in forms other than that illustrated.

It may be desired to form the bearing menr bers 11 integrally with one of the channel members 2, or otherwise modify the construction. Therefore, it is not my intention that what I claim to be my invention be limited to the specific form shown and described, but that it be construed to comprehend all obvious modifications and changes.

What I claim is: 1. In a log handling device in combination, a turning bar having means for engaging a. log and adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally and oscillated transversely, a housing providing a passage for said bar, rollers journaled in said housing at either side of the bar and spaced apart longitudinally thereof, and a guiding means for guiding the oscillatory movement of the bar disposed intermediate said rollers in such position that said rollers relieve it of twisting stresses imparted to the bar.

2. In a log handling device in combination, a turning bar provided with means for engaging a log and adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally and oscillated transversely, a housing adapted for attachment to a platform and providing a passage for said bar, said housing being provided with anti-f action members adapted to engage the bar at different points longitudinally thereof, and guiding means adapted to limit the oscillatory movement of said bar supported by said housing and engaging the bar intermediate the points of engagement of the anti-friction members.

3. In a log handling device in combination, a turning bar adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally and oscillated laterally, a housing providing a passage for said bar, a link pivoted on said housing movably engaging said bar, and means for retaining said link in engagement with the bar throughout the movement of thelatter; said link operating to limit the oscillatory movement of the bar in both directions.

l. In alog handling device in combination a turning bar adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally and oscillated laterally, a housing providing a passage for said bar, said bar being provided with a longitudinally extending channeled portion a link supported by said housing, and means carried by said link adapted to engage in said channeled portion of the bar.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of Jan, 1913.

THOMAS A. COLEMAN. l/Vitnesses:

PETER VREDENBURGH, Jr., 0. T. LANDRUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

